Front-release belt buckle

ABSTRACT

A front-release belt buckle has a female socket and a male plug. The female socket has a hooking part and a main panel, and the male plug has a fastening hole. The hooking part is engaged in the fastening hole for holding the female socket and the male plug. The front-release belt buckle has a simplified structure for ease of use and lowered cost in production.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a buckle, especially a front-release belt buckle that is mounted with straps.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

A conventional side-release buckle is applied to most suitcases and helmets. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the conventional side-release buckle comprises a male plug 50 with pressing components 51 formed on two sides of the male plug 50, and a female socket 60 with holes 61 formed on two sides of the female socket 60. When the conventional side-release buckle is in use, the pressing components 51 are pressed and are plugged in the female socket 60. Then the pressing components 51 are released so that the pressing components 51 can engage the holes 61. To unfasten the conventional side-release buckle, the pressing components 51 are pressed and moved toward the opposite direction relative to the female socket 60.

The conventional side-release buckle is pressed and operated by intensive force from user's hands, so it is inconvenient to connect or disconnect the male plug and the female socket for those people who are less dexterous in manually applying force. The pressing components 51 are elongated and thin structures with weak strength so the pressing components 51 are fractured easily when the intensive force is sustained for a long time. As for manufacturing, the conventional side-release buckle has high cost of production due to the complicated structure.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a front-release belt buckle to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a front-release belt buckle that can be used easily by any user and produced with simplified structure.

The front-release belt buckle comprises a female socket having a hooking part and a main panel, wherein the hooking part is formed and bent on one side of the main panel. A space is formed between an inner surface of the hooking part and an inner surface of the main panel. A male plug is fastened with the female socket. A fastening hole is formed on the male plug. The hooking part of the female socket is engaged in the fastening hole of the male plug.

The advantage of the present invention is that both the male plug and the female socket have simplified and thick structure with enhanced strength. The way of fastening the front-release belt buckle is easy for users. To manufacturers, lower cost and higher quality of production are brought by simplified structure.

The front-release belt buckle as described has a protrusion mounted on the main panel and in the space. The protrusion is applied to holding the male plug and the female socket in the fastened condition.

At least one connecting strap hole is formed on the female socket. Each connecting strap hole is connected with a strap.

At least one connecting strap hole is formed on the male plug. Each connecting strap hole is connected with a strap.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a front-release belt buckle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front-release belt buckle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the front-release belt buckle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front-release belt buckle in FIG. 1, shown connecting with straps in a suitcase;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional side-release buckle in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the conventional side-release buckle in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a front-release belt buckle in accordance with the present invention comprises a female socket 10 and a male plug 20.

The female socket 10 has a main panel 11, a hooking part 12, and a protrusion 13. The hooking part 12 is formed and bent on one side of the main panel 11 to form a space between an inner surface of the hooking part 12 and an inner surface of the main panel 11. The protrusion 13 is formed on one side of the inner surface of the main panel 11 and extends into the space. A connecting strap hole 14 is formed on the other side of the inner surface of the main panel 11.

The male plug 20 is selectively fastened with the female socket 10. The male plug 20 has a fastening hole 21 and two connecting strap holes 22. The fastening hole 21 is formed on one side of the male plug 20. The connecting strap holes 22 are formed on the other side of the male plug 20.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the front-release belt buckle as described is mounted in a suitcase 30 for holding straps 40 inside the suitcase 30. The hooking part 12 engages the fastening hole 21 to hold the straps 40. An outer edge of the male plug 20 is fastened in the space of the female socket 10 and is held by the protrusion 13. The hooking part 12 firmly engages the fastening hole 21 because the outer edge of the male plug 20 is mostly covered by the hooking part 12 and the protrusion 13.

The female socket 10 and the male plug 20 have the simplified and thick structure with enhanced strength. The way of fastening the front-release belt buckle of the present invention is easier for users. The front-release belt buckle can be used for a long time without fracture due to the enhanced strength. To manufacturers, the front-release belt buckle costs lower in production without the need to develop complicated molds.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A front-release belt buckle comprising: a female socket having a hooking part and a main panel, the hooking part formed and bent on one side of the main panel, the female socket having a space formed between an inner surface of the hooking part and an inner surface of the main panel; and a male plug detachably fastened with the female socket, the male plug having a fastening hole formed on the male plug, wherein the hooking part of the female socket is engaged in the fastening hole of the male plug.
 2. The front-release belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the female socket has a protrusion formed on the inner surface of the main panel and in the space.
 3. The front-release belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the female socket has at least one connecting strap hole.
 4. The front-release belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male plug has at least one connecting strap hole. 